TORONTO, June 24, 2014 /CNW/ - From June 2 to 6, 2014, more than 12,000 Purolator employees, partners, agents and customers joined Canadians from coast to coast to raise the equivalent of 396,000 pounds of food for food banks across Canada. The initiative was in support of Purolator Tackle Hunger® (PTH) Week – Purolator Inc.'s national annual fundraising campaign to help alleviate hunger in Canada.

"The kindness and commitment of Purolator Tackle Hunger Week supporters to help alleviate hunger across Canada was truly inspirational," said Patrick Nangle, President and Chief Executive Officer, Purolator. "The 396,000 pounds of food raised during PTH Week will make a difference in the lives of the more than 800,000 Canadians that rely on food banks every month."

Purolator employees, partners, agents and customers held fundraising events across the country to raise food and cash donations for food banks in their communities. Canadians also took to Facebook and Twitter as part of the social media component of PTH Week. For every "like" on Purolator's Facebook page or use of #TackleHunger on Twitter, Purolator donated one pound of food to food banks across Canada. Through this initiative, Purolator raised 4,967 pounds of food, which counted toward the overall total.

PTH Week marks the beginning of the annual Purolator Tackle Hunger program, through which Purolator hosts Game Day Food Drives at nine Canadian Football League (CFL) games and at select professional soccer games across Canada. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or a cash donation to these games to help support their local food banks. Additionally, starting July 16, Canadians will have the opportunity to make an online donation to one of nine food banks across Canada at purolatortacklehunger.com.

Purolator is committed to tackling hunger in Canada and making a positive difference in the communities it services. Since its inception, PTH Week alone has donated the equivalent of more than two million pounds of food to local food banks across Canada.

About hunger in CanadaHunger is an important issue that affects Canadians across the country. According to Food Bank Canada's 2013 HungerCount report, more than 800,000 Canadians – 36 per cent of them children – visit food banks every month.

About Purolator Tackle Hunger®As part of its commitment to helping alleviate hunger in the communities where it operates, Purolator works closely with its employees, partners, agents, customers and food banks across Canada to collect donations and help raise awareness about the issue of hunger in Canada. Since its inception in 2003, the Purolator Tackle Hunger program has helped deliver the equivalent of more than 6.5 million pounds of food to food banks across Canada. For more information, visit purolatortacklehunger.com.